Seat belt buckle



May 28, 1963 F. DAVIS 3,091,010

SEAT BELT BUCKLE Filed April 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4Z 3? INVENTOR 70 /5 5534 47 FAA/A L. DAV/5 BY 'X`.

ATTORNEY May 28, 1963 F. L. DAVIS 3,091,010

SEAT BELT BUCKLE Filed April 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ir-M1575 /2 'IIIA I: VIII/4 INVENTOR. FA/VK L. DA V/S BY mgm...

A 77 @PNE Y ilnited States Fate 3,091,910 SEAT BELT BUCHE Frank L. Davis, College Point, NX. (30 Mariners Lane, Northport, Long island, NX.) Filed Apr. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 190,576 S Claims. (Ci. 24-77) The invention herein disclosed relates to belt buckles, particularly for use on safety belts.

Objects of the invention are to provide a practical eicient buckle which can be made up substantially entirely of sheet metal parts and which, while strong and durable, will be small in size, light in weight and consist of but relatively few, simple, readily assembled parts.

These and other desirable objects have been attained by `a novel combination and arrangement of parts in which the hand lever for effecting release is pivoted in the frame of the buckle by having slots of triangular formation engaged over the pivoted end portions of a locking bar and the latter has these end portions pivotally engaged in triangular slots in the side walls of the frame, enabling this bar thus to serve, in addition to locking purposes, the further function of a pivotal mounting for the release lever.

Other important novel features of the invention are set forth and will appear in the course of the following specication.

The drawings yaccompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate a present practical embodiment of the invention. Structure however may be modied and changed as regards the immediate illustration, all within the true intent and scope of the invention yas hereinafter defined and claimed.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the buckle, rwith the webbing shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FlG. 4 is a side elevation showing the buckle in the released position, with the side of the frame broken away to show position of parts.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of opposite ends of the buckle.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional View on substantially the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on substantially the plane of line 8 8 of FIG. 7, showing parts in the closed, secured relation.

FIG. 9 is a top plan, part sectional view showing the belt end iitting separated from the buckle.

FIG. 9a is a broken plan showing how the locking bar engages over the end tting.

The base or frame of the buckle is shown as a single sheet metal piece of U cross section having a fiat back 10 and upstanding parallel side walls 11, 12.

The release lever or cover likewise is a single piece of sheet metal yof reverse U-shaped cross section having a generally iiat or somewhat rounded back portion 13 and dependent parallel side walls 14 spaced to easily t between the side walls of the frame.

These companion side walls of frame and cover have triangular slots y15, .16 registering when the cover is in closed position as in FIGS. l and 3 and disposed with the apex of such triangles directed toward the adjacent end of the buckle.

Pivotally engaged in the triangular slots 15 in the frame is a locking plate 17 having end portions 18, 19, FIG. 9, of reduced width to fit in the triangular slots and a downwardly extended mid-length portion 2% to enter the locking notch or opening 21 in the tting 22 on the end of the belt webbing 23.

The pivotal or journal portions 18, 19 on the ends of "ire the lock bar 17 are `of suicient extent to carry the side dlanges 14 of the cover, these reduced portions extending through the triangular slots 16 thus to pivotally conne the cover in place in the frame.

The lock bar is yieldingly pressed downwardly toward the back of the frame by a spring 24 of at material shaped in V formation, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, conined between the lock bar and a guide bar 25 which is secured between the side walls of the frame.

'Ihe spring is secured in this relation by engagement of a lug 26 on the guide bar 25 in an opening 27 in the upper portion of the spring and by engagement of an angularly turned lug 28 Ion the lower end of the spring in an opening 29* in the lock bar.

The spring is shown as having -an upwardly extended end 30 engageable by the cover to hold it against rattling.

The guide bar is shown as arched in the central portion at 3-1 to provide clearance for the lower portion of the lock bar and as having portions 32 yat the ends of the same closely approached to the back of the frame to serve as confining guides for keeping the end fitting closely conned in the frame.

'I'he guide bar 25 is shown supported in the frame by engagement at its opposite ends in slots 33 in the side walls 11 and 12 and by having one end slightly inclined at 34 and the opposite end peened over at 35.

'I'he web 36 forming the opposite end of the belt is shown looped about a tensioning bar 37 and under a snubbing bar or pin 38, both of which are slidably and nonrotatably coniined by flat end extensions 39, 40 engaged in slots 41, 42. in the opposite side walls of the frame.

The attened ends 39 of the tensioning bar are shown extended in FIG. 9 to form finger holds by which this bar may be slid away from the snubbing bar 38 for free adjustment of the webbing.

The adjustment bar 37 is shown in FIG. 9 as knurled or roughened to gain `a iirm holding grip on the webbing when tensioned toward the snubbing bar 38.

ln the normal position of parts the V-bent spring 24 holds the lock bar 17 tensioned downward or inwardly, FIG. 8, toward the back 16 of the frame, with the dat end portions 1S, 19- of `the lock bar engaged with the lower edges of the triangular slots 15, 16 in the side walls of the frame and the dependent side ilanges of the cover respectively. ln this way the cover is yieldingly held dolwnward in :the closed position shown in FIGS. 3 and 8.

On entry of the end fitting 22 into the end of the buckle frame the lock bar will be forced upwardly against tension of the spring until the fitting has been fully entered in the buckle to :the point where the end of the lock bar can drop into the locking notch 21, the position shown in FIG. 8, in which position the tit-ting will be securely locked and held in the frame of the buckle.

in this locked condition the end iitting 22 is conned beneath the end portions 32, FIG. 7, of the guide biar 25 and beneath `overstanding shoulders 43, 44 on the edges of the lock bar at lopposite sides of the tongue 21B at the lower edge of this bar.

Accidental escape of the end tting is thus positively prevented and the pants are held against loosene-ss or rattling.

Ilse -lower edges of the triangular notches 15 in the side Walls of the frame limit downward movement of the lock bar in the frame `and the upper edges of these slots limit upward swinging movement of this bar.

The lower edges of `the triangular notches 16 in the side anges of the cover, by engagement with the inwardly tensioned lock bar, serve Ito hold the handle in the normally closed position, FIG. 3.

lhe upper edges of the triangular slots 16 in the cover flanges aord clearance for the lock bar to be pushed upwardly under the lifting pressure of the end iitting beeaientes May 2s, 19ers ing entered in the end of the buckle so that this tting may be engaged inthe buckle 'without forcing the cover or handle into opened position.

The construction disclosed enables the buckle to be made `small and light in weightv withoutY sacriiieing strength or safety factors.

All parts,l except the adju-sting and snu'obing bars37, 3S, may be made of sheet metal with consequent advantages incest, holding power and light weight and the like.V

The dat journal extensions V1.8, 19 of the lock bar i7 are of a width approximatingV the =length of the upper and lower edges of the triangular slots and the base line con-l necting these side edges may be curved as indicated at de on an arc having itscenter at the apex of the triangle thus to confine .the lock bar against edgewise movement in thefratriev and the edges of the reduced journal portionsimay be rounded to afford smooth rolling action of this bar.

Similarly the lower edge of the lock bar may be rounded as shown to rider over the face of the end iitting and drop into position in the inserted end fitting.

The frame :and the cover, in the channel form shown, may be made of light sheet metal without sacrificing strength. Y The lock bar may be made of somewhat heavier stock to assure sucient locking engagement With the end iitting.

The pivoting of the dat end extensions of the Alocking bar in the triangular slots in the frame and the pivotal engagement of the cover on these end extensions eliminates the need for a pivot lboit land spring such as heretoforeY used in buckles of this general type.

The single V-bentspring serves to secure the lock barV and cover together inV properly assembled relation, eliminating need for any yspecial` astenings.

Y The buckle is closed by simply pushing the end fitting on the webfintoV the end ofthe buckle, where it is automaticaliy caught by the spring tensioned locking bar and the parts can1 be instantly released by simply raising the cover sufficiently to lift the lock bar from holding engagement with-the end tting.

Assembly or" the' buckle is simple Iand securing of the parts is effected by the' simple act of assembly.

Referring to FG. 9 'the longer extension 19' of the locking bar is iirst passed upwardly through slots in, 'S in Vthe cover and base flanges and then the bar is shifted down to pass the lower, shorter extension 18 through slots i6, at the bottom.

The guide bar 25 then may be inserted between the side anges 11, 12 of the frame in an inclined position and with the bent end 34 engaged in the lower slot 33 this bar may be rocked into alignment and then be shifted into engagement in the upper slot 33.

l -FiG. 9 shows the lower bent end of the guide bar as longer than the upper end so that this bar may be shifted downward through the lower slot to permit of the necessary rocking movement to bring the upper end into alignment with the upper slot.

Thus, whereas the locking bar has a longer upper end 19 the guide bar 25 has in effect the reverse, a longer, lower end. Y

` These par-ts can `then be locked against releasing movement, that is the locking bar against upward shifting movement 'and the guide bar against downward shifting movement by engagement of the spring Z4 between .these parts, the spring then acting as a key locking both oars against release shifting movements.

As ran additional safety precaution the upper end of the guide bar 25 may be peened over as shown at 35.

Similarly the web securing pins 37, 33 are secured by the mere act of assembly.

After looping the web about it the tirst pin 37 is en' Then with the webbing crowded toward one end of l this pin clearance is provided for inclining the second pin 3S suiiiciently to engageA the ends of it in the slots and whereupon the webbing then when straightened out will hold the pins in the cooperating relation shown.

What is claimed is:

1. A seat belt buckle comprising a frame of channel form having a back wall and upv standing parailelV side walls, Y

said side walis having opposed triangular slots,

Y a release handle of channel formation having reversely extending side ii'anges entered between said side walls and having triangular slots corresponding to and Yin alignment with said triangular slots in the side walls 'when said handle is in closed position in the frame,

a locking bar having end portions of reduced width extending through said triangular slots in said side walls and side, flanges and having a locking tongue at the free edge of the same opposed to the back wall ofthe frame,

a spring tensioning said locking bar toward` said back- Vwall ofthe frame and a web end itting inserta-ble over said backywall between Vsaid side walls into position beneath said spring ten- 'sioned locking bar andY having a locking recess disposed` for entry of said locking tongue therein.

2. The invention according to claim l with a guide bar extending across between said" side walls and said spring being engaged vbetween saidY guide bar andV said locking bar.

v 3. The invention according to claim l withaV guide bar secured between said side walls and said spring fbeing of V formation and in engagement at one end with said guide rbar and in engagement' at the opposite end with said locking-bar. 4. The invention according' to claim 1 in which said locking bar is a hat plate and in which said reduced end portions are of a ywidth substantially'equal to the length of the side edges of said triangular. slots.

5. The vinvention according to claim 2, in `which one i of said end portions of the locking bar is longer than the other and` in Iwhich said guide bar has a longer end portion at the opposite end of that bar from the longer end portion or the locking Ibar and in which said spring; is interlockingly engaged with said bars to prevent movement of said bars in the direction of the longer end portions of the same whereby thus to'secure both bars against shifting'movement in the frame. Y

6. The invention according to' claim 1, with a guide bar overstandingv said lockingbar and said spring being interposed IbetweenV said guide bar and locking =bar `and havingl an extension positioned for engagement by the cover to hold the cover against rattling. 7. "ihe inventionaccording to claim l, with a guide `bar overstanding said locking bar, said spring being interposed between said guide bar and locking bar, said guide bar having an angularly bent end engaged in one side Wall of the frame and having the opposite endl peened over in the opposite side wail of the frame.

8.V The invention according to claim l, with` said side walls having opposed longitudinal slots' in the ends `removed from saidY triangular slots, 'web securing pins having flat end extensions `slidingly engaged in said longitudinal siots andwebbing looped about the innermost of said siidably mounted pins and extending between said pins.

No references cited. 

1. A SEAT BELT BUCKLE COMPRISING A FRAME OF CHANNEL FORM HAVING A BACK WALL AND UPSTANDING PARALLEL SIDE WALLS, SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING OPPOSED TRIANGULAR SLOTS, A RELEASE HANDLE OF CHANNEL FORMATION HAVING REVERSELY EXTENDING SIDE FLANGES ENTERED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND HAVING TRIANGULAR SLOTS CORRESPONDING TO AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID TRIANGULAR SLOTS IN THE SIDE WALLS WHEN SAID HANDLE IS IN CLOSED POSITION IN THE FRAME, A LOCKING BAR HAVING END PORTIONS OF REDUCED WIDTH EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TRIANGULAR SLOTS IN SAID SIDE WALLS AND SIDE FLANGES AND HAVING A LOCKING TONGUE AT THE FREE EDGE OF THE SAME OPPOSED TO THE BACK WALL OF THE FRAME, A SPRING TENSIONING SAID LOCKING BAR TOWARD SAID BACK WALL OF THE FRAME AND A WEB END FITTING INSERTABLE OVER SAID BACK WALL BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS INTO POSITION BENEATH SAID SPRING TENSIONED LOCKING BAR AND HAVING A LOCKING RECESS DISPOSED FOR ENTRY OF SAID LOCKING TONGUE THEREIN. 